10 steps to happiness

Flicking through New Idea, I came across a snippet about how to become more optimistic (written by psychologist Jo Lamble). It was quite an interesting read so I'd thought to post it here too after what I wrote about the other time.

NB. I'm not 'emo' or in a depressed mood to be posting all of this, neither do I think anyone else is. :) I receive a few new issues of mags before they're even on sale at times (...connections), so when I come across something interesting, I have the need to share it! My favourite mag so far is 'Good Health'. bahaha. I love my mags.

10 steps to happiness:

1. Smile. Even if you don't have a lot to smile about, forcing yourself to grin has been shown to boost your mood. And it's contagious - giving and receiving a smile will instantly improve your day.

2. Show compassion. Doing something for someone else will boost your sense of happiness. Drop in on an elderly neighbour. Offer to help a friend. Ring a person you know is going through a hard time.

3. Be grateful. Write a list of all the things in your life for which you're grateful. If you want to take it further, consider writing a thank you note to someone who has helped you in the past.

4. Don't take it to heart. You'll get suggestions and comments everyday, so look at them objectively. Often the comments are innocent - but if they're not, they usually say more about the person dishing them out than they do about you.

5. Bank compliments. If you've given a compliment, don't dismiss it. Thank the person and store it away for later. You can then draw from this bank of compliments when your confidence is feeling a little shaky.

6. Go to bed on a high. Every night list three good things that happened during the day. They don't have to be sensational events, just something simple such as seeing a cute baby or a lovely sunset. It's very therapeutic to finish your day in a positive frame of mind.

7. Imagine success. Try to imagine what success looks like. Where would you be? What would you be doing? Now, think about the steps you need to take to make that picture a reality.

8. Ride the storm. If you're stuck in traffic or miss the bus, allow yourself to feel irritated and grumpy - but only for a while. Let the emotions wash over you and shift your focus to the rest of the day.

9. Don't envy others. Yes, there are usually people worse off than us, but thinking of them doesn't really ease our pain. Conversely, wishing you were in someone else's shoes not only fails to improve your mood, it can make you feel so much worse.

10. Take control. You might not have caused the problem, but you can decide what to do next. Avoid being a victim and take steps to regain control. Where will you start looking for a new job? If you're newly single, how will you spend your weekends? In what ways can you be healthier?

Hope that wasn't such a long read. Will find more amusing things to post later! :]